The Effects of The Simpsons Sitcom on Humanity
The Simpsons sitcom has been the longest running leading animated series with over twenty-seven seasons in 2015 and counting. Not only does The Simpsons have just about fifteen million fans in America, but the sitcom is also viewed by nearly sixty million people across the globe. Yet, The Simpsons did not start out with popularity and acceptance. With the first airing of The Simpsons in 1989 by the FOX network, the show was immediately criticized and mocked, it was put down and judged all over the country. It has taken a few years of exposure for many of the governmental, spiritual, and educational institutions to accept the sitcom. As of today, many people believe that there is an ethical and …show more content…
The Simpson family lives in a town called Springfield, a town that is emblematic of many American towns. Although the show has made countless jokes about the unclear location of Springfield, Matt Groening the creator finally revealed that the town of Springfield, Oregon was the creative inspiration for the sitcom’s setting. The animated town of Springfield consists of a nuclear plant, an elementary school, a church, several watering holes, and a local convenient store known as the Kwik-E-Mart, among other buildings. Some of the extra characters who make a routine appearance on the sitcom are Mr. Burns, who is the boss and owner of the Springfield chemical plant; his loyal and dedicated assistant Weiland Smithers; the law abiding and Christian devoted household of Ned Flanders, which are also the Simpson’s neighbors; principal Skinner, who supervises the local elementary school; and of course Apu, the foreigner who maintains the Kwik-E-Mart. The characters of The Simpsons are actually inspired from real-life people; for example, the inspiration behind Mr. Burns, according to creator Matt Groening, to some extent came from his high school teacher, Mr. Baily; as well as, the Norwegian real estate developer and billionaire Olav Thon. Similar to Olav Thon, Mr. Burns has no heirs and is an "isolated millionaire." Also, on numerous …show more content…
A lot of of the supporters started to point out that the sitcom contained positive messages. Professor, Gerry Bowler, of Canadian Nazarene College in Calgary stated that "If this is a show where good usually triumphs, where the family virtues are always affirmed in the end, why are Christians put off by it? ...if you're a mature Christian you could watch it" (Bowler). Furthermore, William Romanowski, a professor at Calvin College alleged a lot of the episodes "leave God and religion open to multiple interpretations, perhaps so as not to potentially alienate audience members, but also as a reflection of American attitudes" (Romanowski). Similarly, Bob Von Sternberg offers justification to Romanowski's proclamation when he spoke highly of the administrative producer of the series, Mike Scully, "the writers try to represent people's honest attitudes about religion" (Sternberg). Also, an instructor at the University of Virginia, Paul Cantor, brought forward a profound clarification of the sitcom in the journal of Political Theory, where he speaks agreeably that the sitcom "recognizes the genuine role that religion plays in American life, it also suggests that one can go to church and not be either a religious fanatic or a saint" (Cantor). These philosophical and perceptive remarks signifying support for The Simpsons brought about a new moral
The Simpsons sitcom has been the longest running leading animated series with over twenty-seven seasons in 2015 and counting. Not only does The Simpsons have just about fifteen million fans in America, but the sitcom is also viewed by nearly sixty million people across the globe. Yet, The Simpsons did not start out with popularity and acceptance. With the first airing of The Simpsons in 1989 by the FOX network, the show was immediately criticized and mocked, it was put down and judged all over the country. It has taken a few years of exposure for many of the governmental, spiritual, and educational institutions to accept the sitcom. As of today, many people believe that there is an ethical and …show more content…
The Simpson family lives in a town called Springfield, a town that is emblematic of many American towns. Although the show has made countless jokes about the unclear location of Springfield, Matt Groening the creator finally revealed that the town of Springfield, Oregon was the creative inspiration for the sitcom’s setting. The animated town of Springfield consists of a nuclear plant, an elementary school, a church, several watering holes, and a local convenient store known as the Kwik-E-Mart, among other buildings. Some of the extra characters who make a routine appearance on the sitcom are Mr. Burns, who is the boss and owner of the Springfield chemical plant; his loyal and dedicated assistant Weiland Smithers; the law abiding and Christian devoted household of Ned Flanders, which are also the Simpson’s neighbors; principal Skinner, who supervises the local elementary school; and of course Apu, the foreigner who maintains the Kwik-E-Mart. The characters of The Simpsons are actually inspired from real-life people; for example, the inspiration behind Mr. Burns, according to creator Matt Groening, to some extent came from his high school teacher, Mr. Baily; as well as, the Norwegian real estate developer and billionaire Olav Thon. Similar to Olav Thon, Mr. Burns has no heirs and is an "isolated millionaire." Also, on numerous …show more content…
A lot of of the supporters started to point out that the sitcom contained positive messages. Professor, Gerry Bowler, of Canadian Nazarene College in Calgary stated that "If this is a show where good usually triumphs, where the family virtues are always affirmed in the end, why are Christians put off by it? ...if you're a mature Christian you could watch it" (Bowler). Furthermore, William Romanowski, a professor at Calvin College alleged a lot of the episodes "leave God and religion open to multiple interpretations, perhaps so as not to potentially alienate audience members, but also as a reflection of American attitudes" (Romanowski). Similarly, Bob Von Sternberg offers justification to Romanowski's proclamation when he spoke highly of the administrative producer of the series, Mike Scully, "the writers try to represent people's honest attitudes about religion" (Sternberg). Also, an instructor at the University of Virginia, Paul Cantor, brought forward a profound clarification of the sitcom in the journal of Political Theory, where he speaks agreeably that the sitcom "recognizes the genuine role that religion plays in American life, it also suggests that one can go to church and not be either a religious fanatic or a saint" (Cantor). These philosophical and perceptive remarks signifying support for The Simpsons brought about a new moral